Northwest Side areas see 1st homicide of year

By Tracy SwartzRedEye

Albany Park and Portage Park last week both recorded their first homicide of the year, a RedEye analysis of preliminary police data found.

In Albany Park, a 35-year-old woman died from wounds sustained from a fire Jan. 16 in the 4800 block of North Kenneth Avenue, officials said. Police determined the fire to be an arson, and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the case to be a homicide.

Albany Park logged five homicides last year, up from three homicides in 2011, according to RedEye data.

In Portage Park, an 18-year-old man was shot to death Jan. 17 in the 3200 block of North Cicero Avenue, police said.

Portage Park recorded four homicides last year, up from two homicides in 2011, RedEye determined.

Citywide, gunshot homicides were logged in the last week in Austin, New City and Roseland, RedEye found.

Meanwhile, a 2-year-old West Englewood girl died Sunday after she was beaten to death, officials determined.

Thirty-one homicides have been logged so far this year. Forty homicides were recorded in January 2012, RedEye data shows.